Surface condenser



July 3, 1928. 1,675,472

D. W. R. MORGAN SURFACE CONDENSER Filed Feb. 24, 1927 L 1 L 1 w I WITNESSES: INVENTOR 3- D.\N.R.Morgan I BY ATTORNEY Patented July 3, 1928.

NITED STATE PATENT orrlcs.

DAVID W. It. MORGAN, F SWARTHMORE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- ,I-IOUSE ELECTRIC;& MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

SURFACE CONDENSER.

Application filed February 24, 1927. Serial no. 170,607.

My invention relates to surface condensers of the type in which means are provided for passing circulating media through only a certain group, or groups of tubes. As well as through all of the tubes of the nest.

These condensers may be of the radial flow type, and also may be provided with a centrally disposed, divided, air andnoncondensable gas oiltake, all as fully set forth and claimed in the application of John H. Smith, Serial No. 145,198, filed October 30, 1926; and, accordingly,'I make no claim to the apparatus disclosed and claimed in said application.

An object of my invention is to provide a directing means for a device of the type described, which shall be of simple and rugged construction, and which may be so disposed as not to interfere with the normal operation of the condenser and yet be effective for directing gaseous mediate active tubes when a portion of the nest is rendered ineffective. Another object of my invention is to provide a directing means, for a device of the type described, which shall be effective to prevent the by-passingof gaseous media from an inactive portion of the nest, directly to the portions of the air and non-condensable gas oiftake. f

Various other and further objects of my invention will appear as the description; proceeds. l

Apparatus embodying the features of my invention is shown' in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig; 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, ot a surface condenser with its tubes removed; 1

Fig. 2 is a section on the plane, 11-11 of 1, showing the general arrangement of the tube nest; and,

Fig. 3 is an end view of the condenser shown in Fig. 1 and partly in section to show the interior construction ofthe water box.

According to myinvention, a directing means, such as a baflle, is arranged between portionsof the nest which are adapted to be cut out of the circulating system. This bafileextends a suflicient distance from the air removal means to assure that motive fluid will not beby-passed directly from an inactive portion of the nest to-the airremoval. means. In thlsfway, it is assured t at all ga e 'ter ng the condenser will have a proper path of vapor travehand will come in contact with an adequate number of cooling tubes. This bafile preferably terinmates a suflicient distance inside the perlphery of the tube nest to permit gases, which may enter an inactive portion of the nest, to be withdrawn around the ends of the balile to the active side.

In the drawings. I show my invention embodied in a radial flow type of surface condenser, indicated generally at 10, and having a shell 11, a steam inlet 12 and a hotwell 13. This condenser is equipped with water boxes 14 and 15, which are divided bysuitable partition means 16. The artition means may be arranged substantially on the vertical centerline of the water boxes so as to provide substantially equal com partments, as shown in Fig. 3.

Suitable inlet connections for the water 1 box 15, such as connections 17 and 18 may be v the water boxes, maybe separately controllable; and, in this way, a portion of the tube nest associated with one of thecompartments of the water box may be completely cut out of service.

Any suitable tube supports, such as indicated at 20, may be provided for the nest of tubes 26. Extending through the core of the tube nest 26 is an air oiftake 27, which is in the form of a rectangular box-like "structure, and extends substantially the entire length of the tube nest. Open1ngs28 are provided in the lateral walls of the ofi- I take for receiving air and other non-con densable gases from the tube nest. Any suitable means, such as the tray 30, may be disposed above the olftake and in overhanging relationtherewith, for collecting condensate from tubes above the olltake.

The ofitake 27 is also preferably divided by solid partition means 29 into separate compartments 31 and 32. The compartment 31 is indirect communication with the conduit 33 while the compartment 32 is in direct communication with the offtake con- Both 0;? these conduits lead. to any suitable air removal means (not shown). Preferably, however, I provide valves 36 and 37 for controlling the flow of fluid through these conduits to a common lead such as shown at 38, from which air and non-condensable gases may be removed by any suitable air removal means.

Extending substantially the entire length of the tube nest, and arranged between the respective portions of the nest, which are rendered separately controllable by means of valves 22, 23, 24 and 25, is a directing means, or battle member 39, which is arranged substantially on the vertical centerline of the nest. This baflle member extends radially from the air o'lltake 27 toward the periphery of the nest, and is so disposed as to leave arelatively narrow passage 41 below the lower extremity of the battle from one side of the nest to the other, and a similar passage 42, which may be somewhat larger, is left above-the battle for permitting condensable gases to pass, above the baflle,

. from one side of the nest to the other.

1 desired, suitable bracing, or stifi'ening, means, such as angles 43 may be arranged longitudinally of the bafiie 89 as shown in Fig. 2.

Suitable means, such as manholes, or doors 44, as shown in Fig. 3 are provided for each part of each divided water box in order that,'when half of the condenser is rendered ineffective, tubes of the latter may be rendered accessible for cleaning.

In the normal operation of the condenser shown, the valves 22, 23, 24 and 25 are all open, and circulating media, such as cooling water, passes through all of the tubes, and the condenser functions in the manner well known in the art.

During a period of relatively light load, the valves controlling the flow of cooling media through one side of the nest, as, for example, valves 24, 25 may be closed, thus rendering the side of the nest controlled by these valves, in this case the right side in Fig. 3, ineffective.

Valve 37, controlling the air removal means for this side, would also be closed, so that there would be no tendency foruncondensed motive fluid to be drawn over to the inactive side and, likewise, this Sl8Ctl"8 control of the air removal means insures that uncondensed motive fluid will not be with drawn from .the inactive side of the nest through the air removal means.

In this way, it is assured that gases, en-

' tering the inactive side of the nest, must pass to the active side and, since the only avenue of escape for such gases is around the ends of the vertically extending bafiie, through passages 41 and 42, it will readily be seen that by-passing of uncondensed gases from the inactive sideof the nest directly to the air removal ports on the active side of the nest is effectively prevented. Furthermore, it will be apparent that uncondensed gases, in passing from the inactive to the active side of the nest, will be compelled to come in contact with the pro er number of active tubes before reaching tii active ports of the air removal apparatus. 7

While a portion of the tubes of the nest are thus cut out of the circulating system, access may be had to such tubes for cleaning, testing, or the like, through suitable openings, such as the manholes, or doors #4, PW- vided on the water boxes, and thecleaning, or other work, may then be carried on without interference with the operation of, the plant. When the cleaning has been completed the valves-24, 25, controlling the cooling media, and valve 37, controlling the air removal means, may again be opened, restoring the condenser to normal operating conditions.

It will also be noted that during. the nor mal operation, the bafile 39 does, not in any way interfere with the operation of the condenser.

WVhile I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a condenser comprising a shell, a nest of tubes within the shell, and separate controllable means for directing cooling media through respective portions of the nest, the combination of separate controllable means for removing air and non-condensable gases from the respective portions of the nest, and directing means extending longitudinally of the nest and between said respective portions of the nest for preventing condensable gases from bv-passing from one of said respective portions of the nest directly to said means for removing air and non-condensable gases from another of said respective portions of the nest.

2. In a condenser comprising a shell, a nest of tubes within the shell, and separate controllable means for directing cooling media through respective portions of the nest, the combination of separate controllable means for removing air and non-condensable gases from the respective portions of the nest, and directing means on a diameter of the nest and between said respective portions of the nest for preventing condensahle gages from by-passing from one of said respective portions of the nest directly to said means for removing air and non-condensable gases from another of said respective portions of the nest.

3. In a condenser comprising a shell, a nest of tubes within the shell, and separate controllable means for directing cooling media through respective portions of the nest, the combination of separate controllable means for removing air and non-condensable gases from the respective portions of the nest and directing means on a diameter of the nest and between said respective portions of the nest for preventing condensable gases from by-passing from one of said respective portions of the nest directly to said means for removing air and non-condensable gases from another of said respective portions of the nest, said directing means being entirely withinthe periphery of said nest.

4:. In a condenser comprising a shell, a nest of tubes within the shell, and separate controllable means. for directing cooling media through respective portions of the nest, the combination of separate controllable means for removing air and non-condensable gases from the respective portions of the nest, and directing means extending, from said controllable means for removing air and non-condensable gases, toward the periphery of the nest for preventing condensable gases from by-passing from one of said respective portions of the nest directly to said means for removing air and non-condensable gases from another of said respective portions of the nest, said directing means being between the respective controllable portions of the nest.

5. In a condenser comprising a shell, a nest of tubes within the shell, and separate controllable means for directing cooling media through respective portions of the nest, the combination of separate controllable means for removing air and non-condensable gases from the respective portions of the nest, and directing means between the respective controllable portions of the nest for preventing condensable gases from bypassing directly from one of said respective portions of the nest to said means for removing air and non-condensable gases from another of said respective portions of the nest, said directing means extending, from said controllable means for removing air and non-condensable gases, toward the periphery of the nest and extending longitudi nally substantially thewentire length of the nest.

6. In a condenser comprising a shell, anest of substantially horizontally disposed tubes within the shell, and separate controllable means for directing cooling media through respective portions of the nest, the combination of separate controllable means for re moving air and non-condensable gases from the respective portions of the nest, and a baffle between the respective portions of the nest and on the vertical centerline of the nest, said baiile beingwithin the periphery of the nest and extending longitudinally for substantially the entire length of the nest.

7. In a radial flow condenser having a tube nest, the combination of an offtake means within the nest and having lateral admission openings, a partition for dividing the oiftake lonigtudinally into passageway portions arranged side-by-side, and baflle means extending above and below the ofitake means and terminating in proximity to the outermost tubes of the nest.

8. In a radial flow condenser having a tube nest, the combination of means providing a plurality of air ofltake passages having lateral admission openings, said passages being arranged side-by-side, and bafile means extending above and below the ofi'take means and terminating in proximity to the outermost tubes of the nest.

9. In a radial flow condenser having a tube nest, the combination of means providing a plurality of adjacent air ofl'take passages having lateral openings, and bafile means extending substantially radially substantially from the limits of: adjacent passages and terminating in proximity to the outermost tubes of the nest.

10. In a radial flow condenser having a tube nest, the combination of means providing a plurality of adjacent air ofitake passages having lateral openings, and substantially radially extending baffle means terminating between the ports of adjacent passages.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my'name this 21st day of February, 1927.

DAVID W. R. MORGAN. 

